Better Business / Weston College
‘The talent needed to solve the global climate change crisis will come from all backgrounds’
Sustainability and climate education in schools has often been the domain of the science classrooms.
However as public recognition of the climate crisis grows, many schools in England and Wales are beginning to introduce their own climate strategies on campus. Weston College is one of the schools leading the way.
Since 2013, the college has taken a number of steps to reduce its climate footprint. From designing all new campuses to the BREEAM standard, to building renewable technologies into its teaching infrastructure, the school has highlighted how important it is for students to see sustainable construction in action.
The college’s latest initiative goes even further in integrating climate strategy into its education structure. It follows the Department of Education’s sustainability and climate change strategy announcement on April 21st.
Weston College recently hosted an Environmental Awareness Learner Conference to teach young people about everyday environmental impact and planet protecting – photo: Weston College
The strategy sets out the government’s vision for green skills across England and highlights how education, and colleges in particular with green apprenticeships, can lead the way in up-skilling young people and adults to take advantage of ‘green jobs’.
In response to the strategy, Weston College’s principal, Dr Paul Phillips CBE said: “At Weston we are already up-skilling to meet this key agenda for our young people and adults and welcome the approach shown by the government.
“We are also helping businesses navigate towards ‘Net Zero’ as the lead for the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT). One of the ways we are doing this is through the WEIoT’s new Advanced Engineering campus.
Weston College’s Environmental Awareness Conference included interactive workshops and problem-solving activities – photo: Weston College
“We also recognise that the talent needed to solve the global climate change crisis will come from all backgrounds. More importantly we also see that ‘green jobs’ are a great chance to level up and want to ensure that our green skills agenda is as inclusive as possible.
“To this extent, learners from the Inclusive Practice faculty recently took part in an Environmental Awareness Learner Conference.
“With a sustainable spotlight, this event saw learners with special educational needs and disabilities taking part in a carousel of thought-provoking games and engaging challenges to teach young people about everyday environmental impact and planet protecting, through interactive workshops and problem solving activities.”
The college will be hosting a Sustainability Business Breakfast on May 12th at the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare, which it hopes will build a strong network of key employers for climate change collaboration to benefit the region as a whole.
The event will also mark the launch of its new ‘Sustainability and Social Action Framework’.
Main photo: Weston College
Read more: Bristol24/7 to hire dedicated climate and sustainability editor
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